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Los Altos is a city of about 31,000 people in Santa Clara County, in the heart of Silicon Valley between Palo Alto and Mountain View. It grew up around a railroad stop founded in 1907 amid apricot and prune orchards, and incorporated in 1952. Today it is a quiet, affluent residential town with large lots, tall trees and a charming village-style downtown.
Downtown Los Altos, set in a triangle of Main Street, State Street and San Antonio Road, is packed with cafes, restaurants, bookshops and boutiques, and hosts a popular Thursday evening farmers market in summer. Nearby, the Los Altos History Museum and the 1905 J. Gilbert Smith House sit beside a working apricot orchard that recalls the valley's farming past. Tech fans can see the family garage where Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built early Apple computers.
Nature is close at hand at Redwood Grove Nature Preserve along Adobe Creek. Just beyond the city line, Hidden Villa farm and Rancho San Antonio offer hiking in the foothills, and Stanford University and Palo Alto are a few minutes north.
A compact downtown triangle of Main Street, State Street and San Antonio Road with cafes, bakeries, restaurants, wine bars, bookstores and boutiques under shady trees. It is relaxed and walkable, with free parking in plazas behind the shops. Come on a summer Thursday evening for the farmers market.
A local history museum with exhibits on the valley's orchard past and the region's transformation into Silicon Valley, next to the restored 1905 J. Gilbert Smith farmhouse. Outside, a working apricot orchard and gardens surround the buildings. Admission is free; check opening days before visiting.
The ranch house on Crist Drive where Steve Jobs grew up and where he and Steve Wozniak assembled early Apple I computers in 1976. The city has designated it a historic site. It remains a private home, so view and photograph it only from the sidewalk and keep noise down.
A small nature preserve along Adobe Creek with a grove of tall redwoods, native plant gardens and short trails, plus the historic Halsey House. It is a cool, shady escape on warm days and easy for children. Free to visit; parking is in the lot beside Shoup Park next door.
A shaded neighborhood park beside Adobe Creek with a playground, picnic tables, lawns and a small bridge connecting to Redwood Grove Nature Preserve. It is a favorite with local families for an afternoon picnic. Restrooms and parking are available on site.
A nonprofit organic farm and wilderness preserve in the Los Altos Hills with farm animals, gardens and hiking trails into the foothills. It opened the first youth hostel on the Pacific Coast in 1937 and runs summer camps. A parking fee applies, and the trails may close during parts of the year.
A large preserve in the foothills just south of Los Altos with miles of trails, from easy walks to Deer Hollow Farm to the steep climb up Black Mountain. It is one of the most popular hiking spots in Silicon Valley. Parking lots fill early on weekends, so arrive before 8 am.
A community theater housed in a former school bus barn near the Los Altos civic center, staging plays and musicals through the year in an intimate auditorium. Tickets are reasonably priced and every seat is close to the stage. Book ahead for popular shows and allow time for parking.
A seasonal evening farmers market held on State Street in downtown Los Altos on Thursdays from spring to early fall, with local fruit, vegetables, flowers, baked goods and prepared food. Come hungry, browse the stalls, and stay for dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.
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California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
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